Regulatable lighter valve



June 1, 1965 R. L. BURCHETT REGULATABLE LIGHTER VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed m. 11, 1962 INVENTOR. PAY L. BUPCHETT ATTORNEYS Jun 1, 6 R. L. BURCHETTQ REGULATABLE LIGHTER VALVE Filed Oct. 11, 1962' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w PAY L. BURCHETT ZZM'WZW ATTORNEYS 3,186,603 REGULATABLE LIGHTER VALVE Ray L. Burchett, East Orange, N-L, assignor to Jacques Kreisler Manufacturing Corporation, North Bergen, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 229,865 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-189) My invention relates to a burner valve for gas fueled lighters and more particularly to an improved burner valve construction which will not readily clog and which is provided with an improved flame height adjusting feature. 4

Various forms of burner valves are known for lighters which use liquified gas fuel. Relatively complicated mechanisms are employed to prevent the fuel in liquid form from entering the valve proper. These expedients have created additional problems since they are prone to becoming clogged by foreign matter entering the valve assembly. Moreover, they may result in leakage of the fuel or dangeous flare-ups. As a result of changes in temperature the flame height may vary greatly.

In an attempt to overcome the problem of variation in flame height, in the prior art it has been suggested that the burner valve assembly be provided with a means adapted to be operated by the user for regulating flame height. These efforts have not proved satisfactory for the reason that where such regulation is entirely under the control of the user it often becomes maladjusted, thus requiring repair.

I have invented a regulatable lighter valve which overcomes the defects of valve assemblies of the prior art pointed out above. My regulatable lighter valve is so constructed that foreign matter cannot readily reach the valve orifice so that the danger of clogging is substantially eliminated. I provide my regulatable lighter valve with a flame height adjustment feature which can be operated by the user without the danger of preventing the lighter from functioning properly. My regulatable lighter valve provides respective factory-made and user adjustments. My valve is readily adapted for either normally open or normally closed operation.

One object of my invention is to provide a regulatable lighter valve which will not clog.

Another object of my invention is to provide a regulatable lighter valve with independent factory and user flame height adjustments.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lighter valve construction which is readily adapted to either normally open or normally closedoperation- Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a burner valve for a gas fueled lighter in which a first means providing restricted communication to the interior of the fuel reservoir can be adjusted during the assembly of the lighter in the course of its manufacture by means normally housed by the lighter case. A second opening in series with the first can be adjusted by means accessible to the user to adjust flame height within the limits permitted by the adjustment made in the course of manufacture of the. lighter.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 isa fragmentary elevation of one form of lighter with which my regulatable valve can be employed with parts shown in section. v

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lighter shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the details of my regulatable lighter valve.

United States Patent FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of my regulatable lighter valve illustrating the position of the parts with the valve open.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of my regulatable lighter valve taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a normally closed form of my regulatable lighter valve.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawing, one form of lighter indicated generally by the reference character 10 with which my valve can be used includes an outer casing 12 which fits over a reservoir including a lower portion 14 telescoped within an upper portion 16 and secured to the upper portion 16 with a gas-tight seal to permit the reservoir to contain a supply of a suitable fuel such, for example, as liquified petroleum gas. A frame 18 has legs 20 which are frictionally held on the sides of the upper reservoir portion 16. I secure the base 22 of a bracket having side walls 24 to the frame 18. A bushing 23 secured to the side walls 24 by any suitable means such as by a screw 26 carries an abrasive wheel 30. Screw 28. also pivotally supports a snufier 32. A link 34 pivotally connected at one end to the base 22 has its other end pivotally secured to a shaft 36 carried by the thumbpiece 3.3 of the lighter.

I employ any suitable means such, for example, as screws 40 to connect the thumbpiece to the snuffer 32. A spring 41 connected between one of the walls 24 and the link 34 normally urges the parts to a position at which the snufiier 32 is down and the thumbpiece 38, is up as shown in FIGURE 1. A flint guide 42 passing through an opening 44 in the base 22 carries a flint tube 46 which houses a flint 48 which is urged to move into contact with the wheel 30. As is known in the art when the thumbpiece 38 is pressed toward the base 22 Wheel 36 rotates to strike a shower of sparks from the flint.

My regulatable valve assembly indicated generally by the reference character 50 includes a housing 52 having a peripheral flange 54. I insert the housing 52 through an opening 56 in the top 53 of the reservoir and weld or otherwise secure the housing 52 in this position. A port 69 in the bottom of housing 521 provides a passage 62 for admitting gas to the interior of the housing. A dispersion plate 64 disposed within the housing 52 has a shank 66 extending into the passage 62. I place pierced filtering material 68 between the plate 64 and the bottom of the housing 52.

A first gas pressure regulator 70 disposed within the housing 52 for sliding movement has a reduced portion 72 which bears against pierced filtering material 74 over the plate 64. A, resilient washer 76 which may be an O-ring surrounds the reducedportion 72 of the, first gas pressure regulator 76-.

I provide the inside surface of the housing 52 adjacent the top thereof with: threads 78 adapted to. receive a threadedv sleeve 80. having a head 82, When the head- 82 is turned in a clockwise direction, for example, as viewed from the top the regulator 70; is driven down toward the base of the housing 52. In the course of this movement the O-ring 76 is deformed to cause it to conform to the shape of the space between the reduced portion 72 and the wall of the housing 52. At the same time the lower end ofthe regulator 70 exerts a pressure on the filter 74 to restrict. the flow of gas into a passage 84 formed in the portion 72.

From the structure thus far described it will be apparent that gas flows from the inside of the reservoir through the space between-the wall of passage 62 and the shank 66. through-the filtering material68around the edge of the dispersionplate 6.4v and through the filtering material 74 to the passage 34. The rate of gas flow is determined by the adjustment of the sleeve 84 I so arrange the parts that if desired the flow of gas may be entirelycut off. In practice however this is intended to be a factory adjustment which determines the maximum possible flame height of, for example, one and one-half inches. In a manner to be described the flame height'may be reduced by the user from this maximum.

The bore or passage 84 leads into an enlarged bore portion 86 which receives a blocking disc 88 around which gas from the passage 84 flows. I dispose a resilient flame height adjuster 9% over the disc 88. The adjuster 90 rests on a shoulder 92 formed in the regulator and has a central portion 94 forming a passageway 96 to permit gas passing around the disc 88 to flow upwardly through the flame height adjuster 96. A pressure plate 98 has a central boss 104) which bears on the portion 96 of the adjuster 90. A passage MP2 permits the flow of gas from the passage 96 upwardly through the plate 98. Iform the upper .end of passage 102 with a seat 104 for receiving a resilient washer 1% carried by the valve 108. I thread an actuator 110 within the sleeve 8t? so that when .the actuator is rotated it moves up or down within the sleeve 80. The actuator 113 carries a member 112 .having a hexagonal shaped outer periphery for movement therewith. The actuator 116 and the member 112 extend upwardly through an opening 114 in a rotatable element 116 supported in an opening 118 in the top of the frame 18. The stem of the valve 108 extends upwardly through a guide opening 120 in the top of the actuator 110 to a position at which it can be engaged by a block 122 carried by the snufler 32. I

From the structure just described it will be apparent that when the wheel 116 is turned it rotates both the. element I12 and the actuator 110. For example if it is rotated in a direction to move the actuator downwardly in the sleeve it pushes plate 98 down to squeeze the flame adjustor to tend to close the opening 96. In this way the rate at which gas passes through the opening 96 can readily be adjusted. It will be appreciated from the description given hereinabove that even where the actuator has been backed out of the sleeve 80 to a point at which plate 98 exerts no appreciable pressure on the adjuster 90 a flame height of only one and onehalf inches, for example, will be permitted. That is, the flame adjustment which is in response to operation of the wheel 116 is in adjustment which is within the maximum flame height which has been determined by the adjustment of member 82.

In operation of the form of the lighter and valve shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 after the adjustments described above have been made when the user actuates the thumbpiece 38 to rotate wheel 30 to strike a shower of sparks from the flint 4-8 snufier 32 moves away from'the valve 1; H adapted to rock on a pivot 14% has a forked end provided with inwardly directed oflsets 142 which ride in a groove 14-4 formed in the lifter 136. I provide a seal 14%? betweenthe upper endof thelifter 136 anda collar 143 carried by the valve stem 124. i

In operation of the form of my valve shown in FIG- URE 5 when the thumbpiece 3a; is operated in a manner known to the art lever I38 rocks in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES to move lifter 136 up to move step 124 up to liftthe valve sit the seatltidto permit gas 'to pass into the bore 126 ofthe stern.

It will be seen that I have accomplishedthe objects of my invention. I have provided a regulatable valve assembly which will not readily clog. My valve assembly has independent factory and user flame height adjustments. My'valve is readily adapted to either normally open or normally closed operation. a

It will be understood that certain'features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is Within the scope of my claims. It is further. obvious that various changes maybe made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit or" my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not tobe' limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention,-what I claim is:

I. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid from a tank-includingin combination means providing a first'opening normally permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, first adjustable means for regulating the flow of fluid through said opening, means providing a second openin normally. permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, second adjustable means for regulating the flow of fluid through said second opening independently of the actuation of said first adjustable means, a shutott valve and means mounting .saidopening providing means in spaced relation .in series with eachother and with said shutoff valve to permit communication between the atmosphere and the interior of said tank.

2. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid from a tank including in combination'means providing a first opening normally permiting passage of fluid therethrough, first adjustable means for regulating the flow of fluid through said first opening, means providing a second opening normally permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, second adjustable means for regulating the flow I of fluid through said second opening independently of the stem 108 and the pressure of the gas within the reservoir lifts the washer 1% ofl its seat 104, as indicated in FIG- nate form of my regulatable valve which is normally closed and which opens in response to operation of the thumbpiece. In this form of my invention the valve has a hollow stem 124 provided with a bore 126 to which gas is admitted by opening-128 in the stem. A spring 130 bears between a flange 132 at the top of the actuator 110 and the stem head 134 which carries the pad 106 normally to urge the pad into engagement with the seat 164. I provide this form of my invention with a valve lifter 136 surrounding the actuator 110. A lever 138 actuation of said first adjustable means, a normally open yalve, means mounting said opening roviding means and said valve in series on said tank with said opening providi'n means in spaced relationship, means normally closing said valve and manually operable means forrendering saidvalve closing means inoperative.

3. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid from a tank including in combination means providing a first opening normally permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, first adjustable means for regulating the flow ot fluid through said first opening,means providing a second opening normally. perr'nittingYthe passage of fluid therethrough, secondadjustable means for regulating the flow of fluid through said second opening independently or the actuation of said first adjustable means, a normally closed valve, means connecting said opening providing means and saidvalve in series to the interior of said tank with said opening providing means in spaced relationship and manually operable means for opening said normally closed valve. 7 V

4. In a gas-fueled lighter, atank for containing a supply of fluid fuel, a casing for said tank, a valve assembly comprising means providing a first opening normally permitting the flow or fluid therethrough, first adjustable means providing a second opening normally permitting the P ssage of fluid therethrough, means mounting said .opening providing means in series to permit the fiow of fluid out of said tank, second adjustable meanshoused by said casing for regulating the flow of fluid through said first opening and means comprising a member carried by said casing for regulating the flow of fluid through said second opening. I

5. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of liquefied gas from a tank including in combination a housing having a base, means mounting said housing in the wall of said tank, means forming a port in said housing base through which fluid is permitted to flow'from said tank, a dispersion plate provided with a guide stem, said dispersion plate being disposed in said housing over said base with said stem extending into said port and adjustable means for applying pressure to said-plate to control the flow of fluid from said tank around said plate and into said housing.

6. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of liquefied gas from a tank including in combination a housing having abase, means mounting said housing in the wall of said tank, means forming a port in said housing base through which fluid is permitted to flow from said tank, a dispersion plate provided with a guide stern, said dispersion plate being disposed in said housing over said base with said stern extending into said port, adjustable means for applying pressure to said plate to control the flow of fluid from said tank around said plate and into said housing and filtering material disposed between said plate and the base of said housing.

7. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of liquefied gas from a tank including in combination a housing having a base, means mounting said housing in the wall of said tank, means forming a port in said housing base through which fluid is permitted to flow from said tank, a dispersion plate of relatively rigid material provided with a guide stem, said dispersion plate being disposed in said housing over said base with said stem extending into said port, filtering material disposed between said plate and the base of said housing, a first adjustable element carried References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,187,793 1/40 Rice.

2,677,948 5/54 Gehrie.

2,734,364 2/56 Peterson.

3,072,151 1/ 63 Quercia.

3,078,010 2/63 Ichikawa et al.

3,083,554 4/63 Iketani.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,200,837 7/59 France.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

MEYER PERLIN, HADD S. LANE, Examiners. 

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID FROM A TANK INCLUDING IN COMBINATION MEANS PROVIDING A FIRST OPENING NORMALLY PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, FIRST ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH SAID OPENING, MEANS PROVIDING A SECOND OPENING NORMALLY PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, SECOND ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH SAID SECOND OPENING INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST ADJUSTABLE MEANS, A SHUTOFF 